I

"Master Hou, please take a seat!"

"Don't dare, my lady please, Ambassador Zhang please."

Self-satisfaction is self-satisfaction, and demonstrations are demonstrations. In fact, Fan Chao is extremely compelled, and dare not sit in front of Lu Tianxiang and Zhang Ruifeng.

After everyone was seated, Lu Tianxiang said, "Ambassador Zhang, let's talk."

Zhang Ruifeng turned to Fan Chao with a smile on his face: "It's like this, General Fan. The local cavalry who defected on the battlefield learned that we would leave, and more than 20 people asked to follow, willing to bring their horses to help us fight. In addition, they are still in the city. More than 200 slaves were found in the village, and these slaves also asked to come with us. What is General Fan's opinion on whether to take these people in?"

Fan Chao said: "You can choose some good war horses to take away. You don't want people, and you don't want bad horses. It's a waste of food to stay on the boat. As for slaves, how can this small ruined city support hundreds of slaves? "

Zhang Ruifeng explained: "These slaves are one of the sources of wealth for this city. The lord of this city is called Zayed, and he will send cavalry from time to time, go out with pirates, and plunder people and goods along the nearby coast. Persia and The remote coast of the Mughals was also the target of their plunder. The population was plundered, divided into several classes, and sold at different prices to the Portuguese and sometimes to the Dutch."

"It turns out that it was a human trafficker who was beating up today." Fan Chao finally figured out why this big city was able to support 300 cavalry.

Cai Yuncheng interjected: "Uncle, I think that the cavalry should not be taken in, but these slaves should be rescued. They are in a miserable situation. If they are not rescued, they will inevitably be sold into slavery. Even if they are released, they will not be able to go back to their hometown. Bring them on board. In order to ensure military discipline and prevent men and women from being dirty, those female slaves can be arranged to serve on the empress ship. Those eunuchs can also stay on the empress ship to serve."

Cai Yuncheng was born in poverty, and he has great sympathy for these slaves.

At the same time, he couldn't understand the imperial concubine going to sea. Just taking this opportunity, more women and eunuchs were stuffed on the imperial concubine's boat.

Fan Chao was surprised: "There are eunuchs among those slaves?"

Zhang Ruifeng explained: "The slaves here are mainly sold to the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Portugal. The three countries prefer to buy black slaves for working slaves, but white slaves can't be sold at a good price. Therefore, as long as they are young, their appearance is slightly correct. Yes, they will eunuch them and sell them again, and the price can be doubled immediately. These eunuchs were sold to India by Europeans, and the Mughals and other Indian states used to buy eunuchs to serve as eunuchs."

This is completely treating people like animals, and how to make money.

Moreover, the person in charge of castrating the slaves was actually the gelding officer in the city. If the master gelding and the part-time gelling die from infection and inflammation, it is a normal business loss.

Fan Chao thought for a while and said, "Let's stay here. The women and eunuchs are all under the command of the empress. The rest of the men will be assigned to do handymen on other ships, which can be regarded as replenishing the fleet in advance."

The fleet has already begun to reduce its personnel, because it is seriously ill and it is not suitable to continue to sail. Three stayed in India and one stayed in Persia. Arrangements have been made, and officials from both countries will take care of them and take them away when the fleet returns.

We were lucky along the way and did not encounter severe storms, otherwise the sailors would have suffered too many casualties and had to be recruited halfway.

Lu Tianxiang was forcibly stuffed into the boat. She had no objection to this, but asked, "How will the prisoners of war be dealt with?"

Fan Chao said: "This is overseas. Your Majesty let us decide for ourselves. The principle is not to slaughter wantonly. Those prisoners of war can cut off their thumbs so that they can no longer hold weapons. In this way, there will be no more killings, and it will also be possible. It has the effect of punishing and establishing prestige. As for the thief chief, his head must be beheaded!"

The next day, prisoners of war one after another, including the infantry in the city, were lined up to cut off their thumbs.

Most of those infantry were civilians in the city.

After being cut down, the main young and strong laborers in the city can no longer do heavy physical work that requires hands. This city is almost abolished.

Every family wailed, every household cried bitterly, their wives and children cried together.

All the grain, gold and silver hoarded by Zayed were carried onto the ship by the Datong army. Although he is a poor ghost, it is better than nothing. After all, selling slaves is quite profitable, and he will not be so poor that he runs rats in the warehouse.

Sixteen of the captured Arabian horses were selected and taken away, and the rest were given to the local cavalry who had turned their backs and made meritorious deeds.

Rest for a whole day, ready to go.

Most of the more than 200 freed slaves were Persians and Afghans, and there were also a small number of Arabs. They were suddenly free, and grateful to the Chinese, washed and went to work in new clothes.

These slaves have no concept of a country.

Even Persian slaves, because they came from the peasant class, had little sense of identity with the Persian royal family. Whoever feeds them, they will work for whom. With a little better treatment, the loyalty will increase gradually.

"Da da da da!"

Just as everyone boarded the boat, four Arab cavalrymen caught up.

Lu Tianxiang had already boarded the ship, and when she saw this, she said to the female officer beside her, "Go over and ask, what are they doing here?"

The female officer of the Imperial Horse Supervisor came back soon and reported: "These four riders said that they have no family members and asked to follow us to the sea. They are willing to swear allegiance in the name of Allah. General Zheng is willing to take in these foreign riders. Ambassador Zhang does not care, General Fan Tell me to ask your mother."

"Since General Zheng is willing to accept it, let's accept it." Lu Tianxiang said.

The road ahead at sea is unpredictable, and no one knows when they will be in danger. It is not a bad thing to accept a few who can fight.

...

The capital of Oman, Muscat.

It is only 500 miles away from Sohar, where a battle has just been fought, and it is only a short journey by sea boat.

Said I was very happy at this time, and he was thinking about annexing Zayed. Unexpectedly, Zaid's cavalry, as well as the pirates attached to Zaid, came to take refuge in him.

"It was the Chinese who attacked Sohar, not the damn Portuguese?" Saeed confirmed.

A cavalry leader replied: "Great Imam, the Chinese are very cruel. They come in big ships, have a strong army, rush into the city and kill everyone they see. Loot our property and burn our houses, please The Imam has avenged us!"

Said I's prestige has long spread throughout the Arabian coast.

Whenever there is an attack by Portugal, the tribal leaders will come to ask for help, and Said will help whenever he can. The tribes that receive help will basically declare their allegiance, so Said's territory will grow rapidly.

Faced with these cavalry who came to seek refuge, Said did not fully believe it.

He is not only the military leader of Oman, but also the most respected religious leader in the entire Arab region. He had read ancient notes and knew that the Chinese had come to Oman and that they were fair trade and not aggressive. Arab businessmen who came back from the East also said that China, Portugal and Holland were enemies, and that the enemy of an enemy should be a friend.

To appease the cavalry, Said called his confidant and told him: "Take a team of cavalry and go to Sohar to find out the news. Don't conflict with the Chinese and see if the situation there is true. If Zai If Germany takes the initiative to attack, but the Chinese only counterattack passively, then get in touch with the Chinese and invite them to visit Muscat.”

But the confidant said: "Regardless of the real situation, we can go to fight the Chinese. They come from afar, and there will not be too many troops. As long as we win the heathen, no matter what country the opponent is from, your prestige will increase again. Will you There are more and more tribes admiring your prestige and coming to serve you."

"madness!"

Saeed rebuked: "So many countries are hostile to us, only the UK is willing to be friends with us. How can we make enemies indiscriminately in such a bad situation? As long as they are willing to be friends and have goodwill towards us, no matter who Whatever religion you believe in, you can work together. A man’s heart must be as broad as the sea. From the Hajar Mountains, there are many rivers. No matter where they originate, no matter which direction they flow, they will eventually be To flow into the sea!"

His subordinates, left and right, were all convinced by this, and felt that their Imam was extremely wise.

Before the person who inquired about the news came back, the Chinese envoy arrived. The Arab cavalry who had taken refuge, landed with the translator and entered Muscat to explain the situation.

When he heard that Zaid set up an ambush first, Said believed most of it, because he knew Zaid's style.

He asked carefully: "Have you turned to the Chinese?"

The leader of the four cavalry said: "The Chinese masters are merciful. After they won, they only killed Zaid. The rest of the captives just cut off their thumbs. They moved away Zaid's belongings, but did not loot the city, nor Burn down houses. They are different from Portuguese bandits, so we are willing to follow. A benevolent master will never treat his subordinates harshly, and deserves our death allegiance."

Saeed nodded and said: "Don't loot the city, don't burn down the house, such a person is worth making friends, at least he won't stab you in the back. Have they all left? Didn't they stay to occupy Sohar? Build castles like in Portugal?"

The surrendered cavalry said: "No, the Chinese masters are going to Europe. They are the envoys of the Chinese emperor and have no intention of occupying any cities."

"Follow me out of town to welcome guests!"

Said has a very heroic personality. He went to the port to meet the Chinese mission in person without confirming the information, and he was not afraid of being hacked by the Datong Army on the spot.

Lu Tianxiang learned the lesson from the previous time, when encountering such a small country, she simply refused to disembark and show her face, and entrusted all diplomatic tasks to Zhang Ruifeng.

After the two sides exchanged pleasantries, Saeed asked, "Have China and Portugal ever fought?"

Zhang Ruifeng replied: "A seaport city in China has been occupied by Portugal for nearly a hundred years. His Majesty the great emperor took back that seaport and expelled the disobedient Portuguese."

Saeed said happily: "Your emperor is the same as me. The Muscat castle here was built by the grape people, and I personally led the troops to take it back. But there is one bad thing, the Chinese emperor is too kind. , to deal with the ferocious Portuguese, they should all be killed, not just expelled."

"That's true." Zhang Ruifeng didn't bother to argue, and went along with this person.

Saeed said again: "Guests, please go to the castle to enjoy delicious food. But your soldiers, I can't provide food, you need to buy food yourself. I just recovered here for two years, and there is not enough food, so I can only neglect Chinese guests."

"It's okay, we also brought a gift for you."

The communication between the two sides was surprisingly smooth, and diplomatic results were quickly reached.

Arab merchants from Oman will be able to trade freely in Palembang in the future, and they will have priority in replenishment compared to European merchants.

And Seif I was willing to send envoys to accompany the Chinese mission all the way south. The Arabs on the coast of East Africa will give Saif face and receive the Chinese missions as distinguished guests. In many black countries of later generations, the coastal areas were controlled by Arabs and colonized by Portugal at the same time.